Memorable Characters

"Bond, James Bond"

Possibly the most famous and recognisable character in British film history spanning over 5 decades with numerous incredible British actors stepping into those famous shoes. Created in 1953 by Ian Fleming, he is well known for his suave charm and handsomeness. His way with the ladies, and his love of anything thrilling and full of action is also instantly recognisable. His key iconography codes are: his slick black tuxedo suit, his impressive weaponary, and of course that maritini (shaken, not stirred). This continiuty of the basic inconography have helped generations adapt to 6 differnt actors playing Bond, as well as updating him slightly each time to let younger audiences relate with Bond films too. Bond is a classic British icon, and by far one of the best characters of all time.

SOUND

Originally movies didn't have any sounds. They relied on a piano in the cinema screen to create to moods needed. The first feature film to be released with a soundtrack was 'The Jazz Singer' (1927). To have sound in a film was a massive revolution as it had never been done before. However this was because of the huge costs for cinemas and film companies to buy equipment. In spite of this audiences were so impressed with sound in films that it stimulated others to follow suit.

Diegetic sound- Sound within the films world belonging to the films diegesis. Creates a real world atmosphere. Sounds can be added on additionally, but is we can hear that they are withing the film world, and that is you were in that world those are the sounds you would hear then they are diegetic.

Non Diegetic- Additional sounds added that would not be present in the films world such as a narrator and additional music.

On Screen- you can see it and hear it at the same time
Off screen- you can't see it but you can hear it and you know it is off screen.

Foley track- Sounds effects made additionally and added on to sound diegetic for parallel effect. Foley artist are used to enhance and intensify a certain noise, for example in Jurassic park, when the dinosaur was hatching ice cream cones were broken up to sound like cracking, or in Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock tested out various different melons before finding the one that made the most realistic stabbing noise to use for the infamous shower scene.

Sound Bridges- This is when the sound from one scene will continue over into another scene-the images change but the sound remains the same. This helps the film to flow better and it becomes more coherent.

Parallel Sound -Also know as synchronous sound, this is when the sound, and what you see on screen match. For example a romantic song during a loving kiss, or the classic music from Psycho (again) in the shower scene.
Contrapuntal Sound- Also known as asynchronous sound, this is where the music or sound on screen does not match with the action, such as in trinspotting, or in the new Bond film 'Quantom of Solace' in which there is a fighting scene, however opera is being played.

OPENING SEQUENCE: One Fine Day

One Fine Day (Michael Hoffman, 1996) (from begininning to 3:05)

A classic rom-com staring George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer. This film is about two single parents who have possibly one of the most hectic days of their lives looking after their children whilst taking take of their fast paced careers. On top of this a blossoming romance starts to form, beneath all the bitterness. The opening sequence to this film is very calm and simple to contrast to the day to come.

The music starts very softly as non-diegetic sound (not that in the film world). The font is very long and thin on a plain black backdrop so that the screen is not clutter and is very soft and simple, which is reflected in the song. You can hear faint sounds of street noises like police cars and rain which are diegetic sound as you would expect to hear them if you were in the film.

The actors names appear on screen slightly bigger than the other names as they are 'the stars'. Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney, both very well known actors and so there are expectations that the film will be good. Suddenly a city skyline scrolls up into the black backdrop and we can see that wherever it is set is a large city, and on further inspection we can see it is New York as you can see the Empire State Building (if you didn't know this it wouldn't matter). This introduces the location. The camera tilts down and pans across an apartment building, while still showing credits. We see people in their homes relaxing, one playing a piano, and old couple playing cards. The music is very calm and slow which agrees with the actions of the other people in the buildings. However those people were not entirely in focus and so you know they will not be important in the story. The camera starts to zoom in on a particular window, and focuses in to show it is important. On a second look we see this is Michelle Pfeiffer. We instantly recognise her, and have seen her name in the credits before and can assume the camera will stop on her. Although she isn't doing much action she appears quite frantic and stressed. A cut to a shot actually inside her apartment rather than from her window draws you straight in to what she is doing. You can see she is very tired, and you can pressume it is late as it is dark outside. The rain reflects her mood well as it is very dreary. You then see a young boy through the window and she goes and kisses him on the head. We now know she is his mother

The song-"One Fine Day"

Originally by The Chiffons it was a very upbeat and happy song. This version is very slow and mellow because it is late at night, people are winding down, and Melanie (Michelle Pfeiffer) is tired. It also goes with the weather which is slow and dreary.
Lyrics like "one fine day, your gonna want me for you girl" show that there is going to be some romance involved, and we can determine that this will be between George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer.

This use of the song contrasts with the use of it at the end, in which it is up tempo and fun, because the hectic day is over and everthing is happy and the girl and the guy are together.
Here is the clip:

Opening Sequences

Top 10 things an Opening sequence should do...

• Should introduce character
• Introduce location/setting/time
• Engage audiences attention
• Should show the theme and genre of the film
• Introduce a narrative structure
• Should use convention of that genre
• Credits
• Estblish the iconography or sound motifs that will continue throughout
• Establish the mood with a soundtrack (or a lack of)
• Should show the overall pace of the film
• SHould give clues that relate to future stories

Key word: SHOULD-> because it might not..

POSTER ANALYSIS: The Other Boleyn Girl

'The Other Boleyn Girl' 2008

This film is about rivalry in the family, and the bond between sisters, whilst over looking on a beautiful 16Th century England. Both Anne and Mary fighting for the love of King Henry VIII rips them apart, due to Mary's naivety, and Anne's jealousy and determination. Both driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King.

Poster Analysis:

First things first: we recognise the three famous actors; (from left to right) Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Erice Bana. There names are written downwards, but still in the order they appear on the poster.

Johansson's character is in the middle-as the title suggests, and from some knowledge that the audience for this film would know, she is not Anne Boleyn, because from history pictures that we have seen Anne Boleyn was dark haired. Therefore we believe Johansson to be the OTHER Boleyn Girl. However when watching the film you find out that Portman's character is in fact the other Boleyn girl, and so is pushed to the side. The positioing of the titles and the characters on the poster is very crucial as it shows how Mary stand between Anne and the crown

"Two sisters divided
For the love of a King"

This is a very good tagline as it give enough away about the film without giving too much. From that you can assume, without knowing the story that the two sisters are Portman and Johansson, and Bana is the King. It shows there will be some kind of conflict ('divide') and will have romance in it ('love'). Very self explanatory and very clear.

Technical Stuff...

• MS.
• Slight low angle to make them seem more powerful.
• Low key lighting- we can only see what the film makers want us to see. This creates an enigma and lays the grounds for all the deceit in the film.
• Catch light each of their eyes.
• Font continues with the theme and genre as it is quite old fashioned.

Natalie Portman-Anne Boleyn.
In this poster she is wearing the 'Boleyn Necklace' which could mean she is more important in the family, and is the oldest. She has dark hair which has many connotations, including being evil and cunning. Usually in most films (with death) their are two girls, and the one with the dark hair dies, but the blond haired, more virginal girl survives, which is again true to this film. Very defiant glare shows that she will get what she wants. Her almost smirk shows she is more in control that her sister.

Scarlett Johansson-Mary Boleyn
She portrays all the common elements of 'traditional beauty'. Her blond hair signifies her virginal qualities, and her full lips show her youth. Her buxom cleavage and open decolletage shows her young skin and is a sign of beauty; she is the more attractive one of the sisters can be taken from this. Johansson has her head tilted up and has a thoughtful look on her face- she looks more naïve and younger and less in control than her sister.

Eric Bana- Henry VIII
Dark hair and eyes-would appear to match with better Anne Boleyn, rather than Mary. A pensive expression on his face shows he has many problems, and we can agree that this would be true as he was king and would have to run the England one of the most powerful at that time, on top of finding a wife (or six), a legitimate heir to the throne and ultimately love. His pensive stare could also be interpreted as a powerful stare, because he is in control but i believe that the girl are in fact the ones with the control in this story and so therefore his stare is not powerful. His head is tilted slightly away from the girl. This could show he is turning his head on his problems. Bana is closest to Johansson to show he loves her more than her sister, but his head is turned away to show he cannot have her.

Costume and colours are very important in this poster as they are used to represent the time and the status of the characters. The King has lots of rings and a fur around his neck which shows his power and status, and wealth. The vibrancy of the colours, especially in Anne's dress, draw out the richness of that era, and the life that these people led. Intricate detailing on Mary's corset, with materials such as velvet and silk. All in all very luxurious, with no expense spared. A rich and plush fabric behind the characters emphasises and anchors a sense of wealth.

Adaptations of Stephen King Novels

Stephen King famous for his brilliant horrow fiction novels (amongst other genres), has written many books that have notably been adapted for different puposed such as film and television.

Some famous examples are:
1976 Carrie
1980 The Shining
1983 Christine
1986 Maximum Overdrive (based on "Trucks" from Night Shift; directed by King)
1986 Stand By Me (based on his book "The Body", novella from Different Seasons)
1987 The Running Man (novel written as Richard Bachman Stephen Kings pseudonym)
1990 Misery
1994 The Shawshank Redemption
1999 The Green Mile
2004 Secret Window

...amongst numerous others

THR Homework: Casting

Plot 2

The Rectifier
Plot: Sci-fi thriller set in New York following a middle aged man suffereing from amnesia trying to get his life back, with only a government badge to tell him who he is. He finds out he was part of a top secret government organisation, however when trying to uncover why and who he is he is unrecognised and told he has fforged his badge, as the name on the badge is aparenty not him. After a long interrogation it is found out that the man/employee who owns the badge called Ed and the man with amnesia are genetically the same person.
It is discovered that he is a future version of this man Ed and has been sent forward two years in the future to deliver a message to save mankind.

Casting: I believe Denzel Washington would play this role brilliantly as he is known for his serious roles such as Philidelphia (1993), Malcolm X (1992) and the role which won him his Oscar in 2001 in Training Day.